Multilevel folding table



June 11, 1968 A. DEAN 3,387,573

MULTILEVEL FOLDING TABLE Filed Feb. 17, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 HII "h 7 I N VEN TOR.

June 11, 1968 A} DEAN 3,387,573

MULT ILEVEL FOLD ING TABLE Filed Feb. 17. 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet June 11, A. DEAN MULT ILEVEL FOLDING TABLE Filed Feb. 17, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 If Y 1' "Z 7 I C 5' h 7 74 4 mmvroa F/ 8 1454 52 flaw/M United States Patent 3,387,573 MULTILEVEL FOLDING TABLE Abner Dean, 320 E. 57th St,

New York, N.Y. 10022 Filed Feb. 17, 1967, Ser. No. 615,906 8 Claims. (Cl. 108117) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A multilevel folding table which has two pairs of legs, each of which is pivoted at a diiferent opposed side of the table top. The legs cross and nest one pair within the other pair. The outer pair of legs carries a locking bar which is pivoted thereon for movement between an upper and a lower position, and the inner pair of legs has a pair of transverse stops. When the bar is in its lower posi tion and engages the lower stop, the table top is set at an elevated level; when the bar is in its upper position and engages the upper stop, the table top is at its lowered level. The pairs of legs can nest so that the table can assume a flattened position for storage purposes.

It is the primary object of my invention to provide a multi-level table which can be quickly and easily set by a user to a position wherein its table top is elevated and subsequently can be set to a position wherein it table top is lowered, and vice versa. In the first-named position, the table is at a proper height to be used, for example, as a card table or a dining table; in its second named position, the table is in a proper height to be used, for example, as a coffee table.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a multilevel table of the character described wherein the table can be brought to a position with its legs flat against its under surface so that the table assumes a flattened state and in this position can be stored wherever desired.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a multilevel folding table of the character described which is simple in construction, few in its number of parts, econornical in manufacture, and capable of being switched between its various levels by a person with no mechanical skill.

it is another object of my invention to provide a multilevel folding table of the character described which can be easily and quickly brought to positions wherein its table top is tilted to one or the other side, so that in these positions the table top may serve, for example, as a drawing table on which to place a drawing board.

It is another object of my invention to provide a multilevel folding table of the character described wherein the mechanism for enabling the table top to assume numerons levels is simple and easily adjusted, and does not detract from the appearance of the table.

The above brief description, as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of a presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiment in accordance with the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompartying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of my multilevel table, the same being illustrated with its table top at an elevated level;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the multilevel table and showing the table top set in its lowered level;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of my table and FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of my table, FIG. 3 showing the table top tilted to one side and FIG. 4 showing the table top tilted to its other side;

FIG. 5 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary view of the blocking member and mounting therefor and showing in full lines the same in the lower one of its two end positions and in dash lines the same in a transitory position between its two end positions;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are detailed fragmentary cross-sectional views of a hinge for the blocking member, taken, respectively, along the lines 66 and 7-7 of FIGS. 5 and 6;

FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the multilevel table illustrating the same in fiat folded storage condition; and

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view thereof in fiat folded storage condition, taken substantially along the line 99 of FIG. 8.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, reference numeral 10 denotes my multilevel table. The table includes a table top 12 which is a planar member and which conventionally has a fiat top surface 14, is rectangular in plan and includes a pair of short parallel sides 16, 18 and a pair of long parallel sides 20, 22. It will, of course, be appreciated that the table top 12 may be of almost any shape and configuration including circular and oval shapes.

The table further includes a rectangular frame 24 fixed to the under side of the table top 12. The frame 24 includes a joined ring of elongated linear ribs, a, pair of parallel opposedribs 26, 28, these being parallel to e short sides 16, 18 of the table top, and another pair of parallel opposed ribs 30, 32, these being parallel to the long sides 20, 22 of the table top. The ribs extend downwardly from the table top 12 at a right angle thereto, and the lengths of the ribs are respectively shorter than the sides of the table to which they are parallel.

The multilevel table 10 further includes two pairs of legs, a pair of outer legs 34 and a pair of inner legs 36. The pairs of legs are crossed, as shown in the drawings. The terms outer and inner are used because, as will be seen from the drawings and will be described in more detail subsequently, each of the inner legs 36 passes between the legs of the outer pair of legs 34.

Each pair of legs includes two elongated parallel like legs, i.e., struts, the pair 34 including struts 38, 40 and the inner pair of legs 36 including struts 42, 44. A cross strut 46 connects the lower ends of the struts 38, 40 and a cross strut 48 connects the lower ends of the struts 42, 44.

The lower ends of the pairs of legs, as will be evident from FIG. 1, are adapted to stand on any fiat supporting surface. Moreover, it will be appreciated that each of the pairs of legs is of U-shaped configuration, with ach cross strut constituting the base of each U. The inner pair of legs 36 is able to fit within the outer pair of legs 34 because the maximum transverse width of said inner pair of legs is less than the inside, that is, minimum distance between the legs of the outer fair of legs.

Means pivots each pair of legs at a different opposed side of the table top 12. More specifica ly, the inner pair of legs 36 is pivoted adjacent the short side 16 of the table top 12, while the outer pair of legs 34 is pivoted adjacent the short side 18 of the table top.

Each of said pivot mean constitu es a pair of like hinges for each pair of legs, so that there is a separate hinge 50 for each of the struts. each said hinge joining the upper end of its strut to a rib of the frame 24. Each hinge 50 (FIGS. 1 to 4 and 8) includes a leaf 51 fixed to an inner face of a rib, a leaf 53 fixed to the end face of a strut, and a pin 55 pivotally interconnecting the leaves. The pivot means enable the pairs of legs to swing to various angular positions with respect to the table top 12 and the axes of rotation of the pairs of legs are parallel and situated at different sides of the table top. The pivot means are located so that the struts of the pair of inner ice legs 36 pass between the struts of the pair of outer legs 38, while enabling the pairs of legs to pivot without interference with respect to the table top.

The multilevel table 10 further includes means selectively detachably coupling the outer legs and the inner legs at common spaced locations, these spaced locations being intermediate the ends of the pairs of legs. Said means'includes a pair of transversely extending bars or stops, an upper stop 52 and a lower stop 54. The stops are parallel to one another and each extends between the struts 42, 44 of the pair of inner legs 36.

The detachable coupling means further includes a blocking member 56 and means mounting the blocking member for movement between an upper and a lower position. The blocking member 56 is mounted on the pair of outer legs 34. The blocking member and its mounting means is best seen in FIG. 5. Said member 56 is U- shaped and includes a transverse rod 58 and a pair of parallel arms 60, 62, joined to the ends of the rod. The arms 60, 62 are pivoted by a pair of like hinges 70. Each hinge 70 include a pair of leaves 72 fixed to a strut of the outer pair of legs 34 and a pair of leaves 74 fixed to an arm of the blocking member. The outer leaves are pivoted to the inner leaves by inwardly protruding pins 76 which are integral with the outer leaves and pass through aligned apertures in the inner leaves. The hinges 70 enable the blocking member 56 to flip between an upper position, illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, and a lower position, illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5. In each of the foregoing positions of the blocking member, said member lies in the plane generally defined by the outer pair of legs 34. The struts 38, 40 have opposed coextensive cutout areas 78 to receive the arms 60, 62 and permit them to pivot back-andforth without interference. The back walls 80 of the cut out areas prevent the arms of the blocking member from passing beyond the upper and lower positions of the blocking member. In FIG. 5 an intermediate position of the blocking member 56 is illustrated in dash lines, such intermediate position being momentary during the movement of the blocking member between its positions. The alternate directions of movement of the blocking member 56 are shown by the arrows A and B in FIG. 5, the arrow A indicating movement from the upper to the lower position, and the arrow B indicating the converse. The member can move through an arc of about 180.

The elevated level for the table is illustrated in FIG. 1, and to achieve this level, the blocking member 56 is situated in its lower position (contacted by the back walls 89) and the pairs of legs are rotated on the hinges 50 so that the lower face 54a of the lower stop 54 abuts the opposed face of the blocking member. This abutment prevents the pairs of legs from moving with respect to one another and so holds the table stationary at this elevated level. A best in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the lower face 54a of lower stop 54 is angled in order to squarely meet the opposed face of the blocking member 56. The table is exceptionally stable in this position.

To set the table so that the table top is in its lowered level (see FIG. 2), the blocking member 56 is swung to its upper position and is set into abutment against the lower face 52a of the upper stop 52. Said lower face 52a is also angled to squarely meet the abutting surface of the blocking member. As compared with the position shown in FIG. 1, the table top is relatively lower. This position is also very stable. The change from one level to another is achieved simply and with little effort.

The table is also capable of assuming two tilted positions. In one position, illustrated in FIG. 3, the table top is tilted to one side so that the side 16 is lower than the side 18, and in FIG. 4, the table top is tilted to the other ide, therein the side 18 being lower than the side 16. In the tilted position shown in FIG. 3, the blocking member 56 is in its lower position and abuttingly engages the upper stop 52, while in the position illustrated in FIG.

4, the blocking member 56 is in its upper position and abuttingly engages the lower stop 54. The aforesaid tilted position can also be achieved quickly and easily.

The multilevel table 18 is also capable of assuming a flattened position, in which position it can be most easily stored. This position is illustrated in plan in FIG. 8 and in elevation in FIG. 9. In said position, the pairs of legs 34, 36 lie substantially in a single plane parallel to and close to the top surface 14 of the table top, and the struts of each pair abut a different parallel rib of the frame, this rib being opposed to the rib on which they are hinged. That is, the struts 42, 44 abut the rib 28 and the struts 38, 4t abut the rib 26. To further enable the table to fold flat, the ribs 26, 28 are notched as at 82 to receive transverse sections of the struts so that the struts may fold as close to the table top as possible. The table can be erected to any one of its levels or folded fiat for storage easily and without a requirement of mechanical skill on the part of the user.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claim be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

What I claim is:

1. A multilevel table including a table top, a pair of outer legs, means pivoting the upper ends of the outer legs at one side of the table top, a pair of inner legs, means pivoting the upper ends of the inner legs at the other side of the table top, the lower ends of both of the outer and inner legs being adapted to stand on a supporting surface, the pairs of legs crossing and nesting one within the other, and means selectively detachably coupling the outer legs with the inner legs at spaced locations intermediate their ends, said means including an upper stop member and a lower stop member, said members being fixed on one of the pairs of legs intermediate its ends, a blocking member and means mounting the blocking member on the other pair of legs intermediate its ends for movement between an upper position and a lower position, the blocking member in its lower position engaging the lower stop member to set a high-level position for the table top and the blocking member in its upper position engaging the upper stop member to set a low-level position for the table top.

2. A multilevel table as set forth in claim 1 wherein the blocking member in any selected one of its upper and lower positions is engageable with any one of the stop members in a respectively different position to set a tilted position for the table top.

3. A multilevel table as set forth in claim 1 wherein the pair of outer legs mounts the blocking member and the pair of inner legs mounts the stop members.

4. A multilevel table as set forth in claim 1 wherein each pair of legs includes two parallel spaced struts, the stop members constitute parallel spaced bars transversely extending between the struts of the inner pair of legs, and the blocking member includes a rod extending transversely of the struts of the outer pair of legs.

5. A multilevel table as set forth in claim 4 wherein the bars have faces which abut the rod, said faces being angled to squarely meet said rod.

6. A multilevel table as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means mounting the blocking member from movement between two positions constitutes hinges mounting the blocking member for rotative movement through a arc, the blocking member abutting the struts of the pair of outer legs at the end of its arc to determine its upper and lower positions.

7. A multilevel table as set forth in claim 1 wherein the pairs of legs pivot to a position substantially parallel to the table top, the table thereby being flattened for storage.

8. An article of furniture inc.uding a first member, a pair of struts, means pivoting one end of each of the struts to the first member at spaced locations thereon, the other ends of the struts being spaced from the first member, the struts crossing, and means selectively detachably coupling the struts at points of crossing intermediate their ends, said means including an upper stop and a lower stop, the stops being fixed to one of the struts, a blocking member and means mounting the blocking member on the other strut for movement between an upper position and a lower References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Spalding 108118 Slama 108121 Bryan 108-418 Forsyth 108--116 XR Amber 108116 Boardman 108-117 Boardrnan 108-117 Creneling et a1. 1081l7 XR BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner.

G. FINCH, Assistant Examiner. 

